Enslaved was formed in 1991, by Ivar Bjørnson and Grutle Kjellson. Joined by drummer Trym Torsson, they did their first demo in the summer of 1992. While working with the first full length, there came a call from England, resulting in the two 1993 legendary mini albums; Hordanes Land and Emperor These two mini-albums was released as a split-record "Emperor/Hordanes Land". Due to tragic circumstances, Enslaved’s debut album Vikingligr Veldi was held back until the spring of 1994. Enslaved moved their label base to French Osmose Productions, and Frost were released late in the 1994. Enslaved were now known outside the Black / Extreme circles of Northern Europe. This led to the "Winter War Europe Tour ‘95", and the first Norwegian Black / Extreme tour ever in the US, Canada and Mexico during ’95. The tours were a great success; but Trym Torson moved on to join Emperor as a drummer.
Eld was recorded with drummer Harald Helgeson in 1996, and released the year after. However, working with Harald was no permanent solution, so Dirge Rep (then Gehenna) and R. Kronheim were hired, becoming integral parts during the recording of Blodhemn (’98).
Enslaved released an important milestone in 2000 with Mardraum: Beyond the Within, which marked a turning point for the band; and sent shock waves through the Extreme Metal scene with a revolutionary experimental and innovative approach to their genre. The band kept adding fuel to the fire, and released Monumension in 2001, and again the band was shocked to see the positive response to their "no rules" approach to Extreme Metal. Gigs were still being played in Norway, Europe and the States, in front of a faithful and ever increasing audience.
After returning from the UK in March 2002, R. Kronheim had to leave the band. The band kept on working with new material, in which they now saw a synthesis between the original thesis (the "Blacker" Enslaved) and the anti-thesis forming from Mardraum onwards (the experimental, progressive and gloomier Enslaved) – Below the Lights was recorded in 2002 and released the year after, and presented the perfect blend of power, tradition, progressive elements and dark psychedelia. The process and hard work had taken its toll on drummer Dirge, and he left the band.
A new line-up were put together during and after the recording of Below the Lights, including old-timer Cato Bekkevold (Red Harvest founder), Arve Isdal (aka. Ice Dale) and Herbrand Larsen. With all the changes left behind, Enslaved reached new heights with their live performance, also adding strong visual elements in the shape of video art and more. English market leader Kerrang! rewarded their Inferno 2004 performance with a full house: 5 K!’s.
The new line-up recorded ISA during the autumn of 2004, and was released in Oct/Nov ’04 (Feb ’05 in the US). The album received raving reviews in all territories (except Finland obviously), and put Enslaved at the very forefront of contemporary Extreme Metal. A European Tour with fellow Norsemen Vreid took place in February and March 2005. The tour was rewarded with both great reviews and great turnouts. In absentia, during the tour, Enslaved also received both the Norwegian Grammy and the independent Alarm Price for ISA.
The band released the full length album Ruun in 2006, which received great critics world wide and Enslaved received the Norwegian Grammy (Metal) for the second time in a row. Ruun is an extreme progressive metal record with growl-vocals and quite different from the bands first records.
Enslaved released the album Vertebrae in 2008, which gained wide critical acclaim, including Terrorizer Magazine's album of the year and critic's choice album of the year award for 2008. Many of their techniques on the album, particularly harmonies, have been compared to Pink Floyd
Although the band now records in English, their early songs were mostly recorded in Icelandic or Old Norse, with one track on their first full-length album being performed in ancient Norwegian. Lyrics from Frost to Mardraum were mainly in their native Norwegian. Most of their lyrics relate to Norse mythology or history.
They have also recorded a collaboration with the Norwegian noise duo Fe-Mail, under the name Trinacria.
Current members:
* Ivar Bjørnson - guitar, keyboards (1991-) - (Desekrator, ex-Borknagar, ex-Phobia, Obnoxious, ex-Gorgoroth (as "Daimonion"), live session guitar for Taake)
* Grutle Kjellson - bass, vocals (1991-) - (Desekrator, ex-Phobia, guest for V:28, Insanity)
* Arve Isdal - guitar (2002-) - (Malignant Eternal, Audrey Horne, I)
* Cato Bekkevold - drums (2003-) - (Demonic, ex-Ashes to Ashes , Sirius, ex-Red Harvest, Dunkelheit)
* Hakon Vinje - keyboards, vocals (2017-)
Former members:
* Trym Torson (Kai Johnny Mosaker) - drums (1991-1995) - (Emperor, Zyklon, Imperium, Tartaros, Shadow Season, Paganize)
* Richard Kronheim - guitar (1997-2002) - (ex-Subtitles, ex-St. Satan, ex-Kliftones, ex-Desekrator)
* Per Husebø (aka. Dirge Rep) - drums (1997-2002) - (Gehenna, Orcustus, Gorgoroth, ex-122 Stab Wounds, Desspo Hallelujah, Neetzach, ex-Aura Noir, Secht)
* Harald Magnus "Rivheim" Helgeson - drums (1995-1997) - (Thundra, Zeno Morf, ex-Dwelling Souls, session for Evig Natt)
* Freddy Bolsø - drums (2003) - (ex-Blood Red Throne)
* Herbrand Larsen - keyboards, vocals (2004-2016)
* Øyvind Madsen - keyboards (live only) - (Sulphur, Vulture Industries, live for Black Hole Generator)
Discography:
Full-Length Albums:
1994 - Vikingligr Veldi
1994 - Frost
1997 - Eld
1998 - Blodhemn
2000 - Mardraum: Beyond the Within
2001 - Monumension
2003 - Below the Lights
2004 - Isa
2006 - Ruun
2008 - Vertebrae
2010 - Axioma Ethica Odini
2012 - RIITIIR
2015 - In Times
2017 - E (note that the official title of the album is actually the Elder Futhark rune ᛖ, or Ehwaz, which looks like the roman letter M, but the album title is often written as E for simplicity, including in official sources)
Demos:
1991 - Nema
1992 - Yggdrasill
Splits:
1994 - Emperor/Hordanes Land (split with Emperor)
Live albums:
2009 - Live at the Rock Hard Festival
2017 - Roadburn Live
DVDs:
Enslaved also has two DVD releases, primarily consisting of concert footage.
2003 - Live Retaliation
2005 - Return to Yggdrasill
Trivia:
* Grutle Kjellson and Cato Bekkevold are avid sport fishing enthusiasts; in fact, the two met at a related event.
* The band's song Havenless from Below the Lights was featured in the film "Metal: A Headbanger's Journey".
* The band were also reported to have appeared in an episode of the American cartoon series South Park, but this later transpired to be a practical joke at the expense of the Norwegian press.
Krigaren Eg Ikkje Kjende
Enslaved Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Då dei framande kom
Eg sloss for min heim og min buskap
Eg kjempa dei ned
Med mitt spjut og min boge
Så dei heime kunne eta og sova
Eg drakk og eg skråla
Av mine sigrar, mitt mot og min styrke
Eg fortalde om gullet eg fann
Hjå dei eg slakta ned for fote
Eg vakna brått
Ein kald og mørk morgon
Med buskapen daud og trellane rømde
All mjøden var drukken og venene reist
Då la eg i veg til lovande land
For atter å vende heim med aere
Alle som sto i vegen for meg
Skulle kjenne min styrke og vreide
Ved ein flod sto ein gammal og støl mann
Han vokta ein båt som eg trong
Eg skulle hogge han ned
Men sverdet brast og
Den gamle sto der og flirte
"Fattige tåpe, som aldri har skjøna
At ein krigar skal kjempe mot krigar
Aldri du vinn visst du berre ser fram
Og ikkje inn"
Med eit var den gamle vekk
Og vinden tok med seg båten
Ved bredda sto eg og skua
Men nådde ikkje den andre sida
Då starta kampen mot krigaren
Eg alltid trudde eg kjente
The lyrics to Enslaved's song Krigaren Eg Ikkje Kjende tell the story of a warrior who went to battle when strangers entered his land. He fought bravely for his home and his livestock and emerged victorious using his spear and bow. He celebrated his victories by drinking, singing, and boasting about his strength and the gold he collected from defeating his enemies. However, when he woke up the next morning, he discovered that all his cattle had died and his slaves had escaped, leaving him with no mead and no friends.
He left his home and traveled to find new lands to conquer, but on the way, he met an old and wise man who guarded a boat he needed to cross a river. The warrior attempted to attack the man, but his sword broke, and the old man laughed at him. He told the warrior that he was foolish for always seeking conflicts with other warriors and never looking inward for growth. The old man and the boat disappeared, leaving the warrior to reflect on his actions. He realized that he did not know himself, and he could not defeat his true enemy, which turned out to be himself.
The song teaches an important lesson about introspection and self-awareness. It shows that victory in battle is not enough if one is not able to conquer their inner demons. The lyrics are deep and metaphorical, and they resonate with listeners who are striving to understand themselves better.
Line by Line Meaning
Eg for ut i strid
I went to battle
Då dei framande kom
When the foreigners arrived
Eg sloss for min heim og min buskap
I fought for my home and livestock
Eg kjempa dei ned
I defeated them
Med mitt spjut og min boge
Using my spear and my bow
Så dei heime kunne eta og sova
So that the people at home could eat and sleep
Eg drakk og eg skråla
I drank and I sang
Eg lo og eg skrøyt
I laughed and boasted
Av mine sigrar, mitt mot og min styrke
About my victories, courage, and strength
Eg fortalde om gullet eg fann
I told about the gold I found
Hjå dei eg slakta ned for fote
From those I killed in battle
Eg vakna brått
I woke up suddenly
Ein kald og mørk morgon
On a cold and dark morning
Med buskapen daud og trellane rømde
With the livestock dead and the slaves gone
All mjøden var drukken og venene reist
All the mead was drunk and my friends had left
Då la eg i veg til lovande land
Then I set out for promising lands
For atter å vende heim med aere
To return home with honor
Alle som sto i vegen for meg
Anyone who stood in my way
Skulle kjenne min styrke og vreide
Would feel my strength and wrath
Ved ein flod sto ein gammal og støl mann
An old and stiff man stood by a river
Han vokta ein båt som eg trong
He guarded a boat that I needed
Eg skulle hogge han ned
I was about to strike him down
Men sverdet brast og
But the sword broke and
Den gamle sto der og flirte
The old man stood there and laughed
"Fattige tåpe, som aldri har skjøna
"Poor fool, who never understood
At ein krigar skal kjempe mot krigar
That a warrior should fight against a warrior
Aldri du vinn visst du berre ser fram
You'll never win if you only look ahead
Og ikkje inn"
And not within"
Med eit var den gamle vekk
Suddenly, the old man was gone
Og vinden tok med seg båten
And the wind took the boat away
Ved bredda sto eg og skua
By the shore, I stood and watched
Men nådde ikkje den andre sida
But I couldn't reach the other side
Då starta kampen mot krigaren
Then the battle against the warrior began
Eg alltid trudde eg kjente
That I always thought I knew
Contributed by Jeremiah H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.